Ismael super subs stun Rovers with dramatic late show
TWO shell-shock late goals from subs Mileta Rajovic and Rhys Healey gave Watford their third successive away win – and floored stunned Rovers.
It looked an act of desperation when Hornets boss Valerien Ismael put on sub after sub in a bid to retrieve the game.
They had gone behind to a super strike by young Adam Wharton in the third minute and couldn’t find a way back until a late show with two goals in four minutes.
Hornets gaffer Ismael said: “Our subs made such an impact.
“It shows we have a spread of quality. It was a good comeback.
“We were too complacent in the first half. We showed our real face at the end of the game.”
Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson said: “It’s hard to take.
“We dominated the game for 70 minutes but should have finished it off.
“The quality of our opponents played its part – they were quick to the ball after our keeper had saved for both goals.”
The all-change started in the 83rd minute when sub Yaser Asprilla’s shot was punched out by keeper Leo Wahlstedt, only for Rajovic to tap in the rebound. In the 87th minute Wahlstedt pushed out a long shot by Edo Kayembe, with sub
Healey forcing home in the scramble that followed.
Yet it had all started so differently. Blackburn goal ace Sammie Szmodics was left out with “fatigue” – so step forward teenage sensation Wharton.
The 19-year-old homegrown lad scored a cracking early strike to put Rovers ahead. A Hayden Carter pass gave Wharton the chance to belt in a right-foot shot.
For Watford, Vakoun Bayo had two good chances. His first headed effort went into the sidenetting. In the second half his on-target effort was saved.
At the other end Ben Hamer pulled off a series of blocks and stops from Arnor Sigurdsson, Jake Garrett, Carter and Andrew Moran. But then came the vital goals at the double. BLACKBURN: Wahlstedt 7; Carter 7, Hyam 6 (Hill (67) 6), S Wharton 6, Travis 7; Tronstad 6, A Wharton 8, Garrett 7; Moran 7 (Markanday (89) 5), Ennis 6 (Leonard (61) 6), Sigurdsson 7 WATFORD: Hamer 8; Dele-bashiru 5 (Andrews (45) 6), Porteous 7, Hoedt 6, Lewis 6; Livermore 6 (Chakvetadze (72) 5), Martin 6 (Asprilla (45) 7), Kayembe 6, Kone 5 (Healey (83) 6), Sema 6; Bayo 7 (Rajovic (72) 7) STAR MAN: Adam Wharton – Non-stop effort from the home-grown teen sensation and a wonderful strike but to no avail. REF: Dean Whitestone 6